This post is a bit early because my DH needs me to pick him up from work at 8:00 and I didn't want to be late posting :)

The crocheted hat will require approximately 230 yards of sport or DK weight yarn. However, a few people have used worsted weight yarn so yarn substitutions are possible. You will also be using an H (5.0 mm) hook. Tools include a yarn needle (for tucking in ends). The gauge is pattern repeat specific, so you will need to check gauge when the pattern is released.

The knit hat will require a skein (less than 200 yards) of worsted weight yarn. You will also be using US 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles – 16” circular and DPNs. Tools include a yarn needle (for tucking in the ends). The gauge is 5.5 stitches per inch in stockinette.

The knit mittens/gloves will require approximately 220 yards of worsted weight yarn. You will also be using US 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed needles (or size needed for gauge). You will also need a cable needle, yarn needle, stitch holder and stitch row counter. The recommended gauge is 21 stitches is 4” in stockinette.

As always, please contact your partner to get their address, sizing information and color preferences using the email list I provided at the beginning of the dueling club. An updated version of the bracket can be found on my blog.

The patterns will be posted on the HSKS7 blog THIS Tuesday, March 3rd at 9:30 AM CST and the dueling will begin!

This autumn Lark Books are publishing a book of sock patterns that includes a design they commissioned me to do. The book is to be called 'The Joy of Sox' so it may not surprise you to know that I named my very womanly design 'Pink Passion'! A wish to include some fun sock-knitting data in the book has led to a request for the designers to publicise an online poll among their knitting friends. As you are all the best knitting friends I have, I'm inviting you to respond to this poll. It is anonymous, so please be assured that your footsie habits will not be made generally known by participating!

Just a reminder that the Super Secret Homework Assignment is due on Monday, March 2nd by 11:59 pm EST. Don't miss out on the drawing for a great prize too!

Check your email and The Badger's Den for details.

Antonio dela Weasley
2nd Prefect

Hello, everyone!
I'm so sorry to say that Miss Wartbobble has goofed in her math!!! *gasp!* I know, I know. I hope that you will forgive me. Thanks to Quinn I was urged to recheck my math. So, tonight I have checked and rechecked my math and I present to you the knew house standings.

I know that I am late in making this announcement, but the winner of the Ravenclaw Week 2 Posting Prize is....

And the winner of the Ravenclaw Week 3 Posting Prize is....


Congratulations to you both. You earned your prize. Watch for owls winging your way.

During HSKS5 the American/Canadian charity was The Jimmy Fund.  The Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a place where children and their families find hope. For people in New England and around the globe, the Jimmy Fund Clinic is one of the world's premier centers for pediatric cancer research and treatment. 

Thank you so much for your patience, everyone! Below you will find the update to the House points resulting from the Quidditch match.

Hello Snakies!  This week's quiz is curtesy of Ms. Belladonna Boomslang.  Please post the answers to your blog by Midnight Friday, February 27th.

House Quiz
These are short answer questions. Try to answer them completely - if three people do something, for example, give all three names. When you have done the quiz and posted on your blog, please come comment here so we can go check it. Thanks!

1. Harry discovers in Regulus' room that he and Regulus have something uncommon and unexpected in common. What is this, and how did he figure it out?

2.On three ocassions former professors can be presumed to have "visited" the trio while they are in "exhile" - which professors and which ocassions would these be?

3. How do Ron and Harry get into the Ministry?

4. Who is the blond-haired boy, and why is he important?

5. How is the exception that food cannot be conjured classified?

6. Where does the trio first run into Dean Thomas?

7. Bathilda Bagshot does not speak in front of Hermione and Ron because....

8. Who can Harry be said to have buried in Deathly Hallows?

9. Which Horcruxes has Harry actually seen in person before the book starts?

10. Who actually destroys each of the Horcruxes?

Extra credit:

Tom Riddle's grandfather inherited the stone of resurrection. Harry's father inherited the invisibility cloak. What does this imply about Tom Riddle and Harry Potter?

Firstly congratulations to the Gryffindor Muggle Studies prize-winner...

Penelope of Flitwick!

Secondly, Headmistress Wartbobble has kindly let us have this weekend for a trip to Hogsmeade following the excitement of quidditch. For this week's homework, Gryffindor students are required to post about the historical significance of a place they have visited in Hogsmeade over the course of the weekend. Top marks will be awarded for expanding upon the core facts by explaining how they are relevant to the modern wizarding world.

This assignment must be submitted by 12 midnight Saturday 28th February.

1st Clue - What Color Is A Weasley?
This clue led you to Suzie Weasley's blog

2nd Clue - It seems the water is rather murkey, but a good friend has made it clear.
That led you to Lily May Clearwater's blog

3rd Clue - Why Open Pandora's Box?
That led to Pandora Phelps' blog

4th Clue - Pandora was given many gifts. One of the most important (and possibly a made up gift by me) was a gift of the feather persuasion, of a very, very dark color.
That led to Mona Ravenscroft's blog. You know Raven - black feathers :)

5th Clue (didn't realize I left this many!!) - Hmmmm . . . the clues for Snitch hunting are leading us in circles. There is a house that we haven't visited yet, though. Which house is that? Could it be from those that are guant in face?
That clue led to Olivia Gaunt's blog

6th Clue - Aaaaaahhh . . . you are a clever, clever student! But, by now you must be rather hungry. Let's go to the HSKS kitchen for some viddles, shall we? http://hsks4recipes.blogspot.com/
Which led to the Hogwarts Family Recipes blog and

Thank you Head Mistress for the great hunt!

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But what color is a Weasley?


Has it been found? I think not! Post link here when you are ready.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssslytherin Rocks Your House!!!!!!


Don't mess with the best

Pop singer Rick Astley sends best wishes to the Hufflepuff house for this morning's Quidditch match. Go Badgers!

somehow my blog is broken, it don show anything, but the sidebars, i have just done the quidditch...

Hopefully you gys can read it.

Kaae from Hufflepuff

Here we go!!
"Let's do this thing!"

Our search will go without a hitch
And we will find the Golden Snitch!

GO GRYFFINDOR!
RAH RAH Gryffindors Rock!!!!

I have tried several different methods for leaving clues as to where the Snitch will be hidden, but I believe that last terms method was the best. The Snitch will be released on Friday and I thought that it would be best for me to post a little FYI for the newbies.

The Snitch Will
Be an image of a Snitch
Be hidden on one of the students blogs
Be released up to 1 hour prior or 1 hour after the time posted
Probably take less than 5 minutes to find once the first clue has been posted
Be worth 150 points

The Snitch Will Not
Be in the comments section of anyone's blog

The Clues Will Not
Be posted to anyone's blog who has their posts moderated

So, what happens first is a clue is posted to this blog anywhere up to 1 hour before or 1 hour after the time posted for the Snitch to be released. From there you will be lead on a Magical Goose Chase of clues sprinkled throughout the blogs of HSKS students. It will be up to you or your team of Seekers to figure out the clues and find the Snitch. Usually, if the clue is too hard I will post another clue or modify the first clue which is posted to this blog.

Each house usually meets in their common room while they are searching so that they can all figure out the clues together as they search for the Snitch. The excitement is incredible and the joy of finding the Snitch is amazing! I wish you much luck!

1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?
a. The start of the new school year
b. The Dursleys kicking him out
c. Voldemort’s escape from Azkaban
d. Harry’s upcoming birthday

2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?
a. Mundungus
b. Snape
c. Yaxley
d. Shacklebolt

3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six member of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?
a. Mad-Eye Moody
b. Nymp0hadora Tonks
c. Hagrid
d. George Weasley

4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?
a. Kingley Shaclebolt
b. Minerva McGonalgall
c. Arthur Weasley
d. Rufus Scimgeour

5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take?
a. A lynx
b. An otter
c. A doe
d. A stag

6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?
a. The Leaky Cauldron
b. Sirius Black’s house
c. The Dursley’s house
d. Ron’s Auntie Muriel’s house

7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?
a. By giving him clothes and his freedom
b. They didn’t win him over!
c. By giving him something to eat
d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?
a. Severus Snape
b. Lucius Malfoy
c. Lord Voldemort
d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?
a. Moody’s magical eye
b. Nymphadora’s purple hair
c. Hedwig’s head
d. George Weasley’s ear

10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them?
a. To Godric’s Hollow
b. To the Forbidden Forest
c. Back to the Burrow
d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

I thought I'd draw some attention to the HSKS 5 Bag Design Contest Winners! I know that some of you have already started your bags, but know that you can never do without too many ideas. Enjoy!

Enchanted Kit Bag
This bag was entered by Emma Wigworthy.

I can't seem to find the specs on this bag. If someone can point me in the right direction I'll update this post.

Happy Friday the 13th :) Is everyone ready for the FIRST round of the HSKS7 Dueling Club?!?!?! Good luck everyone!

Hello, students! The year has gotten off to a great start :) Everyone is posting to their blogs fabulously and the first round of Quidditch is coming up soon. I truly hope that you all have been enjoying yourselves immensely.

Next weekend, February 21st, is our first Hogsmeade visit. NOT this weekend!! I want you all with your noses to the books! Quidditch trivia will be posted next week.

The special thing about our visits is first years can go too! Please take the time to post about your trip in your blogs. Pair up with some of your Housemates and visit your favorite place.

Very well! That's that. Choose your favorite place and blog about it!!

Okay ladies and gentlemen ... The signups for the dueling club are officially closed. We have a total of 28 participants this round: 12 will be crafting hats and 16 will be crafting mittens and/or fingerless gloves.

So, with wands at the ready … Here is what each of your duels will require:

The crocheted hat will require a skein (less than 125 yards) of bulky weight yarn. You will also be using a K (6.5 mm) hook. Tools include a yarn needle (for tucking in ends). The recommended gauge is 12 stitches and 5 1/3 rounds of dc is equal to 4 inches.

The knit hat will require a skein (less than 125 yards) of bulky weight yarn. You will also be using US 10 (6.0 mm) knitting needles – straights and DPNs. Tools include a yarn needle (for tucking in the ends) and for notions, you will need a large button (about 2" in diameter). The gauge is 16 stitches and/or 24 rows is equal to 4 inches in stockinette.

The crocheted mittens/gloves will require about 120 yards of Aran weight yarn (although some people have used worsted as well). You will also be using a size H (5 mm) hook. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and/or 14 rows is 4" in sc tbl in the round.

The knit mittens/gloves will require less than 125 yards of worsted weight yarn. You will also be using US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles (or size needed for gauge). You will also need a yarn needle, stitch holder and stitch markers. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows is 4" in stockinette.

You will have to contact your partner to get their address, sizing information and color preferences. The dueling club bracket is listed on my blog so you can see who you've been paired with for round one :) I've also emailed everyone a list of participants with e-mail addresses and ravelry IDs so that you can do so. Keep in mind that this is also meant to be a stash busting event so please don't feel like you have to go out and purchase new yarn to participate. Feel free to use yarns from your stash, as long as they are the correct weight for the pattern.

As a reminder, you need to send an item to your partner win or lose. If you succeed at your duel, obviously your partner received their hat or gloves/mittens. However, as per the rules of the dueling club, you should send an item (either the partially finished hat / pair of gloves/mittens or the yarn you were going to use to complete the project) to your partner, even if you lose the duel.

The patterns will be posted on the HSKS7 blog THIS Friday, February 13th at 9:30 AM CST and the dueling will begin!

Please note that the Dueling Club deadline is today! I know I reminding you late. If it slipped your mind and you would like to sign up on the 11th, please contact Agatha Vablatsky via the rav thread. She may still have a spot for you.

Also, Wednesday is the last day to qualify points for having the HSKS 7 logo in the sidebar of your blog.

Please be looking for our first House point update on Monday, February 16.

COME ONE DOWN AND COLLECT YOUR PRIZE!!

You are the winner for Hufflepuff Week One posting.


Watch for the Owl to come this week.

Cheers Elanor

The winner of the Ravenclaw Week 1 Posting Prize is..........

Congratulations!! Watch your mailbox!

Ravenclaws, your homework assignment will be posted to The Raven's Nest by 8:00 p.m. Hogwarts time on February 9.

This week's Gryffindor homework is to list words of 4 letters or more made from the letters contained in "Muggle Studies". You are limited to the number of times the letters appear, i.e. you can use "g" twice in a word, but "m" can only be used once in a word.

Students will be marked according to how many words they list, their longest word, and definitions of words - particularly if useful in understanding the Muggle world.

Homework is due for submission before the witching hour (midnight) on Saturday. The top student will be awarded a house prize.

Congratulations, Minerva!
I am having lots of fun so far in the swap! I am ready for the games!
Hexy

We have a winner in the Gryffindor first House Assignment ... we had many worthy entries, and thanks to all students for getting their homework done!

Our winner is .... Minerva Lovegood !

Congratulations! Your assignment was quite creative - an Owl is headed your way with your prize.

And the winner of the 1st Slytherin House Quiz is . . . (drumroll please) . . .
ESMERELDA BEANSWALLOW! Congratulations Esme!!!!! Your prize will be sent by Royal Coach over the weekend!

All names were placed into a bowl and Prince Corey, assisted by Sir Jinx, drew the winning name before departing to visit his loyal subjects this morning!



Thanks, everyone, for 100% participation in our first House Quiz. Let that set the standard for Slytherin House this term---100% Excellence!

For those in the U.S. you will be required to purchase a Delivery Confirmation when you send your package off. Delivery Confirmation provides both proof of mailing and allows you to track your package to make sure that it gets to it's destination. When you purchase the Delivery Confirmation option you will need to email your tracking # to your Head Girl

Delivery Confirmation provides proof of mailing at the time of mailing and date and time of delivery or attempted delivery. A delivery record is maintained by the USPS. Delivery Confirmation is available with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail. For an additional fee, Delivery Confirmation may be combined with restricted delivery or return receipt.

Flat Rate Boxes
Hopefully many of you know about this option, which the postal service provides. Flat Rate boxes!! Whatever you can fit into this box will only cost you $9.95 to ship, plus your Certified Mail. The joy of it is that you can get the boxes from the postal service for free. You can either order them online or visit your local postal site and request them in person. There is also a larger box option at $12.95.

Good Evening Hogwarts Students! I’m Agatha Vablatsky and I will be acting as the dueling club coordinator for this term.

For new students, here is an explanation of how the dueling club will work:

Essentially, all participants will be organized into brackets where everyone will be paired up with one person. The pattern will be released, and the first person to receive a hat or a pair of gloves/mittens in the mail from their opponent will be dead. The person who is left standing will advance to the next round and will be paired with the winner from another pairing within the bracket. In the end, there will be one person standing from each bracket and they will be dubbed the dueling winner.

Patterns will start out easy and progressively get harder as the rounds progress. I will post the materials required 2 - 3 days before the duel officially begins. This will give you time to contact your dueling partner to get their shipping and sizing information. I will post a yarn weight, amount of yarn required and needle size along with any other notions or tools that the pattern requires. The dueling club is meant to be a stash busting event so you don't have to go out and buy specific yarns. The duel will officially begin 2 - 3 days later (at a specified time) with the posting of a pattern on the HSKS7 blog.

This term, there will be a bracket for hat knitters and a bracket for fingerless gloves/mittens knitters. You do not have to be a fast knitter to participate, but you should be able to finish a hat within 5 days and a pair of gloves / mittens in 1 1/2 to 2 weeks at minimum. In the HSKS6 dueling club, many of the hat knitters finished their hats within 1 – 2 days after the pattern was released. This is our first time for a gloves/mittens bracket but as a comparison, the fastest sock knitters from HSKS6 completed a pair of socks in about 2 days although many took between 3 – 5 days to complete a pair of socks.

Keep in mind that sometimes it comes down to a race of the owls, with the post office being the deciding factor. Completing a project a day or two before your dueling partner doesn't mean anything if your post office decides to mail your package out a day late.

As far as shipping requirements, overnight mail is NOT allowed. It must go Priority. We recommend mailing your projects with delivery confirmation because if projects are received on the same day, the delivery confirmation will let us know when it was delivered. This will help us to alleviate any possible disputes as to who killed whom first.

We will be including crocheters again this time around if we have enough interest! In the beginning rounds of the competition, you will have the option to knit or crochet within your bracket. I’ll pair knitters with knitters and crocheters with crocheters within the hat or gloves/mittens bracket. However, please note that the final round(s) will be knitting ONLY, so you must be able to knit to participate.

More than anything, this is just a fun project. Don't NOT join just because you think you are a slow knitter.

Interested? If you would like to join, e-mail me at hsksduelclub at gmail dot com with the following information:

Potter Name
Bracket: Hat or Gloves/Mittens
Craft: Crochet or Knit

Signups will continue through midnight CST on Tuesday, February 10th and the materials for round one will be posted on Wednesday, February 11th (time TBA). Round one will officially begin on Friday, February 13th (time TBA).

If you have further questions about the dueling club, please comment to this post and I will answer them in the comments so that others may get their questions answered too.

Agatha

Greetings everyone,

I am so excited to be in this swap. This is the first time I have participated in the HSKS swap; I have only been in the Hogwarts Sock Swap.

I have been in touch with my spoiler and spoilee this week.


Everyone have a great weekend,

Mafalda (Hufflepuff)

Would you like to help your House win the House Cup?? Look to the list below, students!

5 pts - Post Wish list in sidebar of your blog - Deadline Feb. 7
5 pts - Post HSKS Logo in the sidebar your blog - Deadline Feb. 11
10 pts. - Handmade Item Completed - Deadline April 3rd
10 pts. Purchased Items Deadline - April 10
50 pts. - Early Owl Period - March 27 to April 17
10 pts. - Blog Posting per Week
20 pts. - Quidditch Trivia
5 pts. - Quidditch Picture Scavenger Hunt
50 pts. - 100% Participation on Quidditch Trivia (bonus)
150 pts. - Finding the Snitch

Please feel to highlight some of your favorite Etsy shops or novelty sellers here on the blog. I'm sure there are many sellers out there that we are unaware of. Two of my favorite Etsy sellers are highlighted below:

Please note! The link to this calender is located in the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Hello, everyone! First, this was formally called the Daily Prophet. Life is just too busy for me at the moment to make this a daily thing, but please do look for these from me at least on a weekly basis.

Posting on this Blog
You have all been sent an invitation to post on this blog. Please check your email boxes for the invite. The only thing that I ask is that you be mindful of not posting around the times when we will be hunting the Snitch and or when another announcement is expected from on of the Head Girls or activity organizers - Bevin or Agatha.

Posting To Your Blogs!
Every student must post on his or her blog weekly. If two full posting periods have gone by without a blog post (and without some type of communication between you and your Head Girl) you will be dropped from the swap! We understand that things happen, but if you choose not to communicate with anyone for two posting periods you will be dropped.

Posting periods run from 12:01 a.m. PST Sunday to 11:59 p.m. PST Saturday. If you post right at the witching hour - well, whose to say that you didn't post at all???

TipJoy
Some of you may have noticed the little Tip Jar in the sidebar. Many of you know that running a swap does incur it's own expenses for the organizers. We are extremely blessed in volunteers every term. No, I don't mean the people that offer donations for prizes, though we would not be able to put together the wonderful angel kits and prizes without you! I mean the ladies that offer to send (sometimes) multiple angel kits/prizes and spend lots of money in postage from their own pockets to get the packages in the mail. Our dear Wisteria, who has been my coordinator of angel packages and swap prizes for the last 3 swaps, has often paid for postage herself. So, to compensate and give a little back to Wisty and others that sacrifice I have added the tip jar. Whatever monies we do not use for Angel Kits will go towards the prizes that are awarded for finding the Snitch, Best Kit, and other activities of Hogwarts.

To those of you who have already donated - Thank You!

Upcoming Activities

Dueling Club
The Dueling Club is a competitive mini-game that we play. If you have every played SmackDown then you'll understand the concept of this game that we play. For more information you can visit the information page on the HSKS site. The dates need to be updated, so please ignore those for now. Will we be making further announcements in a day or two to let you know when the exact start date will be.

Quidditch
The first round of Quidditch begins in just a couple of weeks. Please note that the calendar in the sidebar will alert you to upcoming events.

First Opportunity for Points
This was previously an Early Points activity, but this time I chose to make this a requirement for after the swap started.

Posting HSKS Logo on Your Blog = 5 House Points


Please feel free to use the above image if you do not have and HSKS 7 logo on your blog. To receive credit the logo must be posted in the sidebar of your blog and not within a post.

A History Lesson

To kick off this term we will be having two Beginning of Term Feasts in the Great Hall on Tuesday, February 3rd. Times are listed below:


10 a.m. PST
11 a.m. Mountain
Noon Central
1 p.m. EST
6 p.m. London

5 p.m. PST
6 p.m. Mountain
7 p.m. Central
8 p.m. EST
1 a.m. London



I hope that you will be able to join us for one of these times!

I know that everyone is anxious to meet the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Since the term has already started and most of us have DADA on our schedules, I guess it's time to introduce him. He's quite shy and it wasn't easy for me to convince him that Hogwarts students are well behaved and will act with decorum. So, please, no squealing, lunging, touching or drooling!

I am proud to introduce Professor Fervens Solum!



This is Professor Solum's first teaching position. He has been very involved in private research and, of course, I've made myself available to help him continue that private research. He's really quite talented!

He has told me that there is something embarrassing about his name, but he won't tell me what. Hmmmm...must figure this out.

/* Posting for Queen Frysia because she doesn't have access to this blog yet.  She's also sponsoring a most excellent prize.  Thanks HRH! */


First Slytherin House Quiz

1. 
   
   
   What are your three most favorite colors?
2. 
   
   
   What are you three least favorite colors?
3. 
   
   
   Your favorite candy is _________________.
4. 
   
   
   Draco, Lucius, or Snape?
5. 
   
   
   Do you knit, crochet, or both?
6. 
   
   
   What type of kit did you ask for?
7. 
   
   
   Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)?
8. 
   
   
   Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term?
9. 
   
   
   Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit.
10. 
    
    
    What are your three most favorite scents?
11. 
    
    
    Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
12. 
    
    
    Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List?
13. 
    
    
    Do you really need more stitch markers?
14. 
    
    
    Dpns, circular, or straight?
15. 
    
    
    What yarn makes you squee?
16. 
    
    
    Favorite HP Movie?
17. 
    
    
    Favorite HP character?
18. 
    
    
    Who was your first choice for DADA professor?
19. 
    
    
    What is the Slytherin Common Room called?
20. 
    
    
    What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House?